In my prior posts about the MSC Divina, I covered many areas of the ship including the cabins, dining (in Eataly and in the main dining room), spa and fitness, pools, and even Little San Salvador island. It’s now time to share some of my last images of the ship and my final thoughts.
Looking up in the reception area, you’ll not only notice the Swarovski crystals, but also the grand crystal chandelier and since it was December, the Christmas decorations. Having a classical quartet greet you upon entry to the ship is like no other especially in such a palatial reception area.
Fancy a coffee? Stop by Caffe Italia for a coffee or a drink or perhaps a combination of the two. If you really want to treat yourself, try something off the Chocolate Temptation menu by Segrafredo Zanetti like the Caramel Coffee Frost or the After Eight Chocolate. Yum!
The buffet restaurant onboard the MSC Divina is divided into two sections: The Manitou Buffet and the Calumet Buffet. Some people love going to the main dining room for a sit down meal while others like the casual atmosphere of the buffet. Which type of cruiser are you?
The international section entitled the “Ethnic Corner,” had yummy Indian food like Palak (spinach sautéed with garlic and spices) as well as chicken, rice, and more. As a non-meat eater, seeing that they had options available for me was nice, but I do wish most cruise lines would offer more protein options for vegans and vegetarians. There’s usually an abundance of fruits and vegetables available, but just not enough protein like tofu, seitan, tempeh, Gardein, etc. I wouldn’t be able to contain my excitement if I were able to cruise and have a meal with sufficient vegetable protein!
Maybe you only want a piece of cheese and a glass of wine. Visit the large cheese bar and grab some brie, gorgonzola, goat cheese, or one of the many other varieties available along with fresh bread that is baked daily onboard the ship.
Maybe that type of food doesn’t suit you at all. Maybe you’re more of a hamburger and fries kind of person. You’ll find that and more in the buffet as well and it’s wrapped and ready to go.
Even the jolly little Kinder egg loves MSC Cruises! Nothing is better at getting you inside a candy store than a great big Kinder egg.
Before you leave the ship, you might want to stop by the Cruise Center and book a future cruise. Located out in the open in part of the Silver Lounge on deck 6, it doesn’t offer much in the way of privacy and there isn’t much literature to research cruises so you’ll need to rely on the staff to guide you through the process, but it will be worth it with a small deposit and onboard credit for your future cruise. I ended up using one of the computers in the Cybercafe to research cruises before heading over to the future cruise consultant, which saved us both time.
The sports deck was one area I overlooked, but if you want to play soccer or basketball, head on up to deck 16 where you can either participate or take a seat in the stands in the sports arena. Other sporting options included miniature golf, a jogging track, and even shuffleboard. The MSC Divina also offers the first ever aqua cycling class at sea. If you’re someone who loves spinning classes, why not try the aqua cycling class? There’s also a Formula One race care simulator and a roller coaster simulator if you’re more of a passive athlete.
The views from all around the ship were as striking as the MSC Divina herself. On this particular day while taking a picture of the sunset, I happened to notice another cruise ship passing in the distance. I wondered if those passengers were having as great a cruise as I was.
Overall, my cruise on the MSC Divina was a memorable one mostly because it was a new cruise ship and cruise line for me, but also because of the great service that MSC Cruises provided. Did you know that the crew received special training specific to American cruisers? It definitely showed as they were friendly and professional. Who should cruise with MSC Cruises? Families, couples, singles, and groups. In a word, just about anyone would have a good time on MSC Cruises. I would absolutely recommend taking a cruise with MSC Cruises and I will definitely cruise with them again. In fact, it looks like I will this year and I will even have the opportunity to try out the MSC Yacht Club so definitely come back and read more about my experience then. If you’ve never tried cruising or haven’t cruised in the past five years, keep your mind open and consider a cruise for your next vacation.